Building The AX014-OO Next Train Indicator Boards – Part One Multi Platform NTI Array (OO 1:76 Scale)

A Look At Building The AX014-OO Next Train Indicator Boards – Part One Multi-Platform NTI Array Kit

For this article, we’ll take a look at a kit for modern layouts, the AX014-OO Next Train Indicator Info Boards. This kit has been in the range for a few years now & we worked closely with manufacturers of the real next train indicator info boards to get this kit as realistic as possible. The kit is one that can be split over a few evenings with four different types of info boards included in the kit. As per all SMS kits, comes in clear package complete with instruction sheet & a sheet of laser cut parts.

The photo below shows the kit contents.

We’ll be looking at building the multi-array NTI boards in this part one of four.

Let us get started…

Tools required

What tools do I need?

A cutting mat
Tweezers
Roket Card Glue or Super Phatic Glue
Sanding stick (Cosmetic nail sanding board is ideal)
Glue stick (like Pritt Stick)
Craft knife with a fresh sharp blade.

The build

We’ll start with the two long NTI display panels. On the texture wrap sheet, you’ll need to cut out Wrap Sheet parts C1 & C2. These are the front & rear texture wraps for the NTI display board which covers a maximum of 8 platforms. You can, of course, cut it down to a smaller display if your station doesn’t have eight platforms.

The image on the right shows the two textures C1 & C2 highlighted in the orange boxes.

To Cut these out use a craft knife with a fresh sharp new cutting blade & a steel ruler/straight edge as a cutting guide.

There are four parts (two C1’s & two C2’s) these make up two separate display boards. For each board, there is the rear texture wrap & the front display wrap as shown on the right.

The bigger wrap of the two is the rear section, turn it over so that the rear non-printed side faces up & score fold lines as marked by the arrows. Use the rear blunt edge of a craft knife or similar to gently score a fold line, as shown below right on one of the other texture wraps of this kit. Don’t press too hard & cut through the texture wrap!

Next cut & remove three of the Part C Base core layers highlighted in the image right. The three core base layers are required for one display board. You’ll notice in the image right we’ve arrowed one of the laser cut lines on the base layer. These are for cut guidelines for if you require a smaller display panel. Simply cut them along the guidelines if you choose to have a small er display board.

As we are making the full-length display board, we’ll ignore the arrowed cut guidelines.

After cutting & releasing the three core base layers from the parts sheet, lightly sand any pips flush on the part sides.

Apply Roket Card Glue as shown right, to one of the three core base layers.

Now place the second core layer on to the glued first layer, make sure all edges are flush square & true.

Repeat the process & glue the third base layer on to the other two base layers to create a stack of three. Again make sure all edges are square, true & flush.

Apply glue to the non-printed side of the rear texture sheet. Use the likes of a glue stick or similar which will give you working time for any adjustments of the texture sheet.

Now place the stack of three core base layer centrally onto the glued texture sheet as shown right.

Next, fold down the glued two long side flaps as shown right.

Now, fold down the glued two short end flaps as shown right.

Before gluing the display panel front onto the front of the piece, make sure that the front display texture is the correct way round as shown right. The X cross marks of the rear texture sheet are towards the top & thus the front panel must go on with the title text towards the same top as the crosses.

Again use a glue stick or similar.

The Multi-Platform NTI Display Scaffold Stand

We now move on to the NTI display scaffold. Carefully cut & remove Parts F the upper part of the scaffold upright. Lightly sand flush any pips from the part sides.

Take one thin piece & one wider piece out of the four part F’s & slot them together as shown right. Run a bead of Roket Card Glue along the inside joint. Allow a short time for the glue to set.

Now repeat the process with the remaining two part F’s & fit & glue them together. Again allow a short time for the glue to set.

Now glue both sections & bring them together as shown right. Make sure you have the four slots (circled in orange) all at the same end. Those slots are for the top cross frame to sit in.

The Scaffold base section is what we now move on to next. These are part G and highlighted by the orange box on the part sheet right. Cut & remove the four part G’s from the part sheet. Light sand flush any pips on the part sides.

Same as previously with part F, glue & fit the four G parts to create a hollow box.

Next, fully insert the top section (parts F) into the hollow box section (parts G) as shown right. Once inserted, apply glue to secure both parts. Make sure the four slots (circled in orange) are at the top as shown right.

Now we move on to the scaffold top arms. Cut & remove parts H from the parts sheet. Lightly sand flush any pips from the sides of the parts.

Next glue the part H’s into two pairs of stacks of two as shown right. Make sure all part edges are sitting true square & flush.

Slot the two pairs together as shown on the right. Once slotted together, apply a small bead of glue on each of the four center joints as shown in the second photo on the right.

Next, insert the scaffold top brackets on to the top of the scaffold post. Each of the four brackets sits in the slots on the top of the scaffold tower. Once inserted, apply a small drop of glue on each side of the scaffold post top as shown in the second photo right.

Next, we need the scaffold top rails. Cut & remove parts I from the parts sheet, again lightly sanding flush any pips off the sides of the parts.

If you are using the full-length NTI Display, leave the scaffold top rails as they are. If using a shorter length NTI Display then cut the scaffold top rails to suit.

Glue the four top rails into two stacks of two as shown right.

Apply glue into the two recesses shown in the two orange circles shown right. Then insert the scaffold rail into the two glued recesses. Make sure the center point of the scaffold rails is about level with the center part of ‘X’.

Repeat the process & fit the other top scaffold rail.

Painting

Give the scaffold post assembly a coat of primer aerosol can paint. Once dry paint with your chosen colour. We’ve used an aluminum effect aerosol can spray paint for the top coat. See your local model shop or arts & craft shop/dept for paints.

Once the paint has dried, apply a bead of glue along the side of the scaffold rails as marked by the two orange arrows right.

Next, take one of the display panels & making sure that the ‘X’s on the rear of the panel is facing more towards the top, place the glued scaffold rail centrally on to the crosses. As shown in the photo right.

The panel will be at a sloping angle so that the panel with face downwards slightly.